The order of the washing:

The order of the washing is as follows, as per the Chabad custom for washing for bread: One is to fill a vessel with at least a Revius of water, while it is held in his right hand. One then passes it to the left hand and pours over the entire right hand three times, up until the wrist.^[7] One then passes the vessel to the right hand and pours over the left hand three times. One then dries the hands without saying a blessing. Some have the custom for the family members to bring the water to their father and mother and wash their hands.^[8] This is not necessarily the Chabad custom.]

& Maaseh Rebbe:^[9] Prior to washing hands, the Rebbe would silently read the instructions written in the Siddur regarding Urchatz and Kaarpas. The Rebbe washed his hands on his own and did not have anyone pour the water on his hands, or bring the water to him.

Q&A

May one speak between washing and eating the Karpas and when are the instructions of Karpas to be said?

One may not talk between the washing and the eating of the Karpas.^[10] Accordingly, some are accustomed to reciting the Simanim of Urachatz-Karpas, and all their instructions prior to the washing.^[11] Other Poskim^[12], however, rule that it is even initially permitted to recite the Siman and instructions of Karpas after washing, as the matter relates to the Mitzvah and is not considered an interval.

What is one to do if he accidentally said a blessing of Al Netilas Yadayim by Urchatz?

*See supplement at the end of this chapter for the full details of this matter!

If one began saying the words Baruch Ata Hashem, and then remembered, then he is to conclude with the words Lamdeini Chukecha. If one accidentally recited Al Netilas Yadayim by Urchatz then many are accustomed to [saying Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed and] continuing the Seder as usual [with washing again with a blessing by Rachtza], as is written in many Poskim. However, amongst Chabad Chassidim, some are accustomed to follow an initial directive of the Rebbe, and to immediately eat Matzah in such a case, and follow the order of 1) Yachatz; 2) Eat Matzah; 3) Karpas without Bracha; 4) Maggid; 5) Maror. Others, however, abide by the claim that the Rebbe later retracted from this ruling and hence follow the former, general approach. Each person is to follow the directive of their Rav.

Question:

I have a sink right next to my dining room table, which I can reach from my chair. I would like to know if I can wash hands from the sink while sitting in my chair, or if I must stand up when washing for bread. I have a recollection that some are accustomed on the night of the Seder that the sons wash the hands of their parents for Urchatz and Rachtza while they are sitting in their chair. What is the Halacha in this matter?

Answer:

You may remain seated when you wash for bread and say the blessing of Al Netilas Yadayim, and there is no requirement for you to stand, and so was publicly witnessed to have been done by the Rebbe, who washed his hands and said the blessing while sitting. However, by the morning washing upon awakening, the blessing must be said in a standing position. The above follows the ruling of Halacha, however, according to Kabbalah, some claim that one should always stand when washing for bread and saying the blessing.

Explanation:

From the letter of the law, one is only required to stand when saying blessings which involve obligatory commands, such as when saying the blessing over Tzitzis, and Tefillin. This is learned from Sefiras Haomer which is required to be said and blessed on in a standing position. Thus, by the morning washing, one is required to stand for the [washing and] blessing of Al Netilas Yadayim  being that the morning washing is a command. The above rule, however, is with exception for the blessings made over Shechitah and Challah, being that these two Mitzvos don’t hold the same weight as other commands, as they are done merely for the sake of being able to eat food. [Meaning, that since the eating of a specific food, such as meat or bread, is voluntary and not a command, therefore, the mitzvah which relates to the food contains a voluntary aspect being that one can choose simply to not eat the food.] Accordingly, one is also not required to stand while washing for bread and saying the blessing, as one can simply choose not to eat bread, hence making it similar to a voluntary mitzvah.

Nonetheless, all the above applies according to the letter of the law. However, according to the teachings of Kabbalah, some write one is to stand while washing for bread and saying the blessing. However, some argue that this only applies on Shabbos.

Practically, many Gedolei Yisrael were witnessed to wash their hands for bread while sitting, and so was the witnessed practice of the Rebbe.

Sources: See regarding washing and saying the blessing while sitting: Ittur Tzitzis 3:2; Chavilim Beni’imim 1:1; Beir Moshe 5:17; Rivivos Efarim 1:125; Shaareiy Habracha [Shtitzberg] 1:40 footnote 111; Piskeiy Teshuvos 158:2; Seder Netilas Yadayim of Rav Elyashvili footnote 47 that so was custom of Rebbe; Or Yesha 224;  Other opinions who rule to bless while standing: Peas Sadcha 30; Siddur Yaavetz; Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:171;See regarding the general rule of standing for Birchas Hamitzvos: Admur 8:3; M”A 8:2; Beis Yosef 8:1 in name Orchos Chaim Tzitzis 27 based on Yerushalmi “That which it states in the Yerushalmi that all blessings are to be said standing, it refers to Birchas Hamitzvos”; Haittur Zohar Tetzaveh brought in P”M 8 M”Z 1; P”M Pesicha to Hilchos Brachos 202:18 “We hold that Birchas Hamitzvos must be said standing”[however, see P”M 432 M”Z 3]; M”B 8:2 “All blessings of Mitzvos need to be done standing”; Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that the blessings of Mitzvos are not required to be said in a standing position, with exception to those Mitzvos that must be performed standing. [P”M 432 M”Z 3 “Chazal instituted the blessing similar to the performance if it is done standing”; Artzos Hachaim 8:1 states it is only a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar; Bach 8 only requires standing for Mitzvos that have no benefit; See Pnei Yehoshua Megillah 21a; Mor Uketzia 8 that depends it if the Mitzvah is accustomed to be performed standing; Piskeiy Teshuvos 8:4]; See regarding sitting for Birchas Hamitzvos relating to foods: Admur ibid; M”A 8:2; See P”M Pesicha to Hilchos Brachos 202:18 who explains that based on this we are accustomed today to sit by various blessings of Mitzvos, such as “Al Achilas Matzah,” “Leishev Basukkah” and others, since these Mitzvos involve eating, they may be said in a sitting position; See Bach 8; Pnei Yehoshua Megillah 21a; Mor Uketzia 8; Piskeiy Teshuvos 8:4 who differentiate between Mitzvos that are performed standing versus sitting; See regarding the ruling of Kabbalah to stand while washing for bread: Siddur Harizal; Siddur Rav Shabsi that this applies only on Shabbos; Darkei Chaim Veshalom 276 that so was his custom